Are Americans Exercising Enough?

Doctors are trying to motivate their couch potato patients to exercise every day, but is it enough? WSJ's Laura Landro and Dr. Susanna Carter discuss with Tanya Rivero. Photo: Getty

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... how often do you exercise its chances are it's not enough ... a study shows as few as eight percent of American adults meet the federal guidelines for physical activity of a hundred and fifteen minutes for a week ... so here with tips for improving your exercise vitals as doubly SJ reporter let tomorrow and DAL and DRC's and a card or ... an obstetrician and gynecologist ladies thanks ... to both of you for being with us ... Barbara Starr with the way we're going into the holiday season anywhere work demands a high social demands family demands ... the first thing that goes to the wayside for many people as exercise during the cold weather unless you're out there skiing and it's really a problem how much ... exercise is recommended is really not that much something like two hundred ... and fifty minutes a week two and half hours a week ... and it is ... that CEOs spread over that week and surprisingly about fifty percent of Americans say the meat that potentially lesser percentage still acting ... like the doctor harder ... most Americans it really needed to improve in this regard don't they at how our doctors now using exercise ... as of myself up ... well it's a great question ... and he murmured after Sunday that began and actually reading this in conversation with patience to begin ... unfortunately we have been doing and that was the last expansion enter medical school curriculum this point I'm however ... the study showing that the steam engine in space you say something like seventy percent chance that the actually take firm steps towards that boned recommendations ... and is blanketing the if that's ... just let ... her read when pressure ... is this what is their current accurately tool ... kidding me in your community team lacks is ... so large ... that some of the new programs out there because there are efforts being ... whoa that's a program called exercise is medicine and ... the sponsor like training courses as they like forty countries that sponsor for the American College of Sports medicine ... and basically they get the new youth training classes have to be paid for beginners all kinds of free materials on their website ... to treat patients can look at as well to see things like that I'd I'd be these were taken with exercise that I had no ... high blood pressure but are safe ways to exercise ... basically the giving doctors the tolls they need in a bit of a lot of time the office visit the giving them the tools to assess it as a vital signs ... Dr Carter said ... and as to really give them some guidance and find at the media referral ... and then there's certifying I exercise professionals people I care facility doctors re for them ... they know this is someone who's qualified to do this so now ... the invitees on how people can fit in some of this exercise that on a day-to-day basis of need as brisk walking count ... absolutely and ... a team that is really important added ... a recommendation or hundred and fifty minutes of moderate intensity exercise ... or standing ... I've ... been here six years so it is the intensity is ... in top Anki Singh also hire full time ... at the hearing this the prom I kept the conversation ... you're really working harder ... since you stream training and sessions per week is written in and something the weekend with weights or weekend by great I can get city is here with the three characters ... so so nice things we can actually fit into our work day we can do a better guide Ask our weekend walk from work to home if it absolutely right to call the high heels and ... flats in our home for miles as often as I can ... very difficult if it means that the work week but it's not possibly do you get up an hour earlier and get on the treadmill or walk ... down the steps are so many things you can do of course now that so many things to make it something like that that you can wear and puberty very competitive and they start to put themselves as if they can break their record ... so there's lots of ways to motivate yourself if I become like brushing your teeth right ... without thinking about it thank you so much lah DAC is a data card or not